Matteo Darmian says Man United fringe players ready to take chance

Matteo Darmian has told Manchester United's fringe players they must be ready to take their chance if they get the nod against Burton Albion on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho is set to rotate his squad for the Carabao Cup third-round tie against the Championship side.

Darmian, Sergio Romero Luke Shaw and Michael Carrick are among the players in line to start. And the Italian full-back has warned they must not pass up the opportunity to impress Mourinho with fierce competition for places at Old Trafford.

He told United Review: "We have a very good squad, 25 very good players, so every player is important, especially when we have seven games in 22 days.

"So everyone has to be ready, everyone will be ready. When the manager gives us the chance, we have to take it."

Matteo Darmian could be in line for a rare start against Doncaster on Wednesday.

Darmian has had to be patient so far this season with the 27-year-old starting just once in the Premier League in the 2-2 draw at Stoke.

He added: "Every time I'm on the pitch, I try to do my best and try to help the team to achieve victory. That's my mentality, to work hard during the week, so I'm ready if the manager gives me an opportunity.

"We've started very well, we are playing very well, so I hope we can continue. To do that, we need to work hard and that's it, trying to win every game is not easy but we are ready for that challenge."

Daley Blind started the season as Mourinho's regular left-back, but the Dutchman was left out of the squad for the 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

He already faces competition from Darmian, Shaw and Ashley Young while Marcos Rojo is getting closer to a return after suffering a knee injury at end of last season.

Blind told United's website: "I think, if you have a big squad, the competition is high in the training sessions," he said. "It makes you better as a player and also as a team, and it shows the strength of the competition if someone comes in and they're ready. I think it's very good.

"I think we're feeling good as a team. I think we show it on the pitch, how eager we are to win, how bad we want it and how we want to work for each other. That's the most important thing, but we still have to keep our feet on the ground.

"We have to work hard every day to get where we want. That starts in the training sessions and we have to show it on the pitch in every game."

Rob is ESPN FC's Manchester United correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @RobDawsonESPN.